Ann Bastien

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Kaatje dalderop: vice president

Kaatje Dalderop has served the LESLLA field in various roles: as a volunteer tutor, a teacher, developer, teacher trainer, advisor, and researcher. She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and is currently working on her Ph.D. investigating language learning strategies in the LESLLA field in the Netherlands. Her research looks into language learning strategies as part of learner experiences and reflections as well as strategies in teaching practices. Kaatje works as a freelancer with a main focus on Dutch as a second language and literacy.

FERNANDA MINUZ: PAST president

Fernanda Minuz began working with LESLLA students in 1992 when she was appointed by the Municipality of Bologna (Italy) to reorganise the L2 programme for adult immigrants. Since then, she has been active in the LESLLA field as a researcher, author and teacher trainer. She has participated in Italian, European, and international projects on L2 teaching. Fernanda co-authored Literacy And Second Language Learning for the Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants. A reference guide (with J. Kuvers, R. Naeb, K. Schramm, L. Rocca) and papers on heritage languages in teaching to LESLLA learners (with I. Cheffy, B. Haznedar, K. Miles, J. Kreeft Peyton, M. Young-Scholten, T. Wall). She attended and presented at the LESLLA symposia in Granada, Portland, Palermo, Pittsburgh and participated in the development of the Heritage Language Resources Hub on the LESLLA website. 

NIKKI COOPER_ROBBINS: SECRETARY

Niki has a B.Ed and an MA in Applied Linguistics. The MA piqued her interest in socio-linguistics and the importance of holistic, inclusive pedagogies. Niki is a PhD student researching the displacement realities of refugee background youth. This combines three passions: multilingualism, refugee education, and creative methodology.

During her 25-year career as a K-12 international school English Language Learning Coordinator, she developed an interest in identity construction and student autonomy. Advocacy work followed by way of parent, teacher and student education at a school, local, national, and international level. Supporting emergent multilingual learners’needs and using art to guide learning motivate her.

Niki works remotely from the Netherlands for Blekinge Integration & Education Centre, Sweden. Multilingual support services in the areas of healthcare, civic orientation, and education are provided to newcomers of all ages. In this environment, Niki gains rich insight into the experiences and needs of LESLLA learners.